Ted Turner, the larger-than-life media mogul who owned the Atlanta Braves and Atlanta Hawks, has passed away at the age of 87. Turner Enterprises confirmed his death on Wednesday, marking the end of an era for one of sports' most colorful and influential figures.

Though Turner made his fortune in television and radio, his impact on professional sports was undeniable. After taking over his father's advertising company, he expanded into broadcasting, eventually owning WTCG—the station that would become WTBS. It was this platform that first brought Braves and Hawks games into homes across the country, setting the stage for Turner to buy both franchises: the Braves in 1976 and the Hawks a year later.

Under Turner's ownership, the Braves became one of the most-watched teams in baseball. By broadcasting games nationally on WTBS, he turned a regional team into a household name long before the era of 24/7 sports coverage. But Turner's time as an owner was never dull. In 1977, he was suspended for a year by then-commissioner Bowie Kuhn for violating free-agency rules to sign outfielder Gary Matthews. The team also lost its first-round draft pick. Turner appealed—and won, with both penalties overturned.

That same year, with the Braves mired in a 16-game losing streak, Turner took matters into his own hands. He managed the team for one game. He lost. National League president Chub Feeney quickly ruled it a conflict of interest for an owner to manage his own team. Turner appealed again, but this time, Kuhn upheld the decision.

By the 1980s, Turner stepped back from day-to-day operations, but he remained the Braves' owner until 2007. His legacy, however, extends far beyond the win-loss column. Turner not only changed how we watch sports, but also reminded us that passion—and a little bit of showmanship—can leave a lasting mark on the game.